UBA executives receive Guardian Woman Festival award for leadership and impact in banking and customer experience across Africa

Chief Executive Officer, Africa 1 at United Bank for Africa, Chioma Mang, and Group Chief Experience Officer of United Bank for Africa, Michelle Nwoga, were honoured with Special Recognition Awards at the 2026 Guardian Woman Festival for their contributions to leadership, banking innovation and customer experience across the continent.

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UBA Executives Guardian Woman Festival Award was presented during the closing ceremony of the festival’s “Seven Women Wonder” category, an event that brought together prominent figures from business, philanthropy and civil society to celebrate women driving meaningful change across Africa.

The recognition highlights the growing influence of female leadership within United Bank for Africa, one of the continent’s largest financial institutions. Both executives were acknowledged for their roles in shaping corporate strategy, enhancing customer engagement and advancing service excellence within the organisation.

Receiving the award, Chioma Mang expressed appreciation for the recognition and emphasised the collective effort of women working within the banking sector.

She described the honour as a shared achievement, highlighting the contributions of women across UBA and the broader financial industry who continue to play a pivotal role in reshaping Africa’s economic landscape.

Michelle Nwoga, in her remarks, reflected on the importance of empathy and execution in leadership, noting that meaningful customer experience is rooted in understanding and serving people effectively.

Her comments underscored the operational philosophy that has guided UBA’s approach to customer engagement and service delivery.

UBA formed part of a wider recognition programme that celebrated several other notable women across industries.

Among the honourees were leaders in banking, architecture, media, retail and sustainability, all acknowledged for their contributions to professional excellence and societal development.

The 2026 edition of the Guardian Woman Festival concluded after a month-long series of events focused on leadership, impact and purpose.

Organisers used the platform to not only highlight individual achievements but also to draw attention to collective efforts by women-led initiatives and organisations contributing to social progress.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Co-convener Anita Athena Ibru explained that the festival deliberately expanded its scope to recognise institutions and teams working behind the scenes to drive change.

Her remarks reinforced the theme that collaboration and alignment of purpose among women can produce significant and lasting impact.

The inclusion of philanthropic organisations in this year’s recognition also marked an important shift, bringing attention to groups working in health, advocacy and community development.

These organisations were acknowledged for their sustained efforts in supporting vulnerable populations and advancing social welfare initiatives.

United Bank for Africa continues to maintain a strong presence across Africa and beyond, serving millions of customers through its network of operations in multiple countries.

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The recognition of its executives at the festival further reflects the institution’s ongoing emphasis on leadership development, inclusion and excellence in service delivery.